05/08/2026
Gastroenterology Associates Dr. Narayan visited the offices of Senator Marsha Blackburn, Senator Bill Hagerty, and Representative Diana Harshbarger, about several key issues impacting patients across our state.
As American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) governor of Tennessee, Dr. Narayan also had the honor of meeting Dr. Oz, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to discuss challenges affecting patient access to timely digestive health care.
Key advocacy priorities included:
✔ Improving access to GI care in rural communities
✔ Reducing delays caused by insurance barriers and prior authorization
✔ Expanding colorectal cancer screening and early detection
✔ Addressing the growing need for digestive health specialists
✔ Raising awareness of the alarming rise in colorectal cancer among young adults an emerging public health crisis
Colorectal cancer remains one of the most preventable cancers, yet many Tennesseans still face barriers to screening and specialty care. Advocacy efforts like these help ensure Tennessee patients continue to have access to high-quality digestive health care close to home.
